The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-02-17

silver and god nightmare. Grotesque,
mocking faces rose from their shining bowls
and fixed their gaze upon him, whichever
way he might turn. They waltzed in couples
before his pathway. They poured cold and
acrid water in slow, torturing streams
over his face. They talked in strange,
madly, unintellibible jargon, and sur
rounded him on everv side.
Then the scene changed, and he saw his
venerable grandmother lift one Of the COB
let's to her lips, 10 drink what he knew to be
deadly poison. And yet he was powerless
to stay her hand. He could not speak; he
could only watch her with horrible fascin-
alton as she slowly drained the fatal liquid,
drop by drop.
Finally, after repeated and agonized ef-
forts. he succeeded in giving utterance to
stifled cry, and the sound of his own voice
awolSe him, only to fall asleep and dream
tho same thing over again. A cold perspira-
ton stood upon his forehead, and he was
shivering as if with cold in the warm sam
mer night.
But in the morning all effects Of the
nightmare had vanished, and he laughed at
its absurdity 'sLobster salad is more
powerful than an evil conscience in
conjuring up frightful Dreams" he
said to himself. And he went to walk
with Tessy Revere, and forgot every
thing in the charm Of her society.
But he did experience singular sensa-
tion, when, day or two afterwards, he
called at the cottage, and Mrs. Revere
brought him wine in one of those silver
goblets which had played such antics in his
dreams
"Mrs. Revere" said he, 81 am convinced
that those goblets have strange history"
And he laughingly related the story Of his
experience with them.
A queer expression fitted over her face.
Miss Revere looked startled, and fixed her
keen dark eyes upon his face with search
ing scrutiny.
Haven't they a historyl" said Miss
Tessy, lightly. ''They have been pressed
by the lips Of Revolutionists; they have
served at solemn and sacred feasts and then
at the gayest merrymakings. They have
glittered with compounds to drown French
grief and to arouse American wit. They
have served at bridals and funerals, they
have glittered in the gloom of prison-like
salons, and sparkled in the sunshine Of an
outdoor Bohemian holiday. Who will write
poem on the gobletsl'
Tom Stratton was falling in love with
Tessy Revere; but he wasa fastidious youth,
and sometimes her speech Jared upon his
ear, though it was more her tone than the
words which she spake which was unpleas-
ant in this case. He had not yet reached
| the point where blindness sets in, and the
disease becomes incurable, but he was fast
approaching it.
A week passed by, and blue, bright,
beautiful Sunday dawned upon Bramleigh.
1t was communion Sunday, and an unusual
air of sacredness seemed to pervade the fine
| old church. A great pyramid of white lilies
shone upon the table in front Of the pulpit,
| which was already spread for the feast of
| holy remembrance 80 dear to tn church in
all nations.
Tessy, in q pale pink bonnet, sat within
| tho glow OF a stained window, looking more
beautiful than ever; and Tom Stratton gazed
| at her, and forgot both Sc rvice and sermon.
He was not a commnnicant, but he remained
in the church after the congregation was
dismissed, for the sake of escorting Mrs.
Leeds, his maternal grandmother, to her
| home. She was sweet old lady, and her
| grandchildren We'd with each other in doing
her service. But it can not be denied that
he would rather have gone home with Tessy
| to-day, if his venerable relative had been
otherwise provided for, and he fancied that
there was a shade Of disappointment in her
face as she paused q moment in the door
way, giving one quick, backward glance.
He leaned back in the pew when she was
gone, and gave himself up to dreamy sort
~ osn;,. ,d the .,ouas vne % tS ;n:. o y.
the table as he nonred the wine hnt was
NOT really conscious of anv thing nnti, he
| was suddenly aroused bv the sight Of the
dear old lady at his side holding the silver
goblet which Contained the sacred wine n
her Inns He shivered a mist came over b;a
ewes. he felt the blood leaving his Inns and
cbeolxs mora than the horror NJ b;a dream
oyerpowered him for moment. She looked
exactly as she had looked in the dream.
holding the sacred goblet to her Inns. and Il
was one of the very goblets from which he
had drank so unsuspiciously at the Reyere's
table. It was of plain, massive style, with
no distinctive marks about It. There might
be millions of other such poblets in the
world, but still he was as sure that IL was
the same, as he was sure that he br eathed.
Poor Tom he would as soon have ararL
from the HOLY Grail as to have drank 40
irreverently from these. He was blessed,
| not only with an orthodox bringing up, but
a reverent and sensitive nature. The shock
dispelled his love dream forever. He felt
bitter indignation against the whole family
who had thus imposed upon the parish, but
particularly against the girl who had de-
ceived him 30 with her false tongue and
foolish articles. He wondered why he had
been 30 blind as not to have seen through
these artitices before.
That night he sent a note tn Mr. Revera
Il was brief, but to the point. The next
dav. 70 the surprise and regret of the nariah
| the new SEXTON resigned his nosition The